Posted on 13th January 2023 by Hintons
Looking to get rid of an old computer, mobile phone or mp3 player? You aren’t supposed to put them in your general waste bin, but you shouldn’t add them to your household recycling bin either.
So, what can you do with them?
WEEE recycling is the process of safely disposing and reusing electrical items. It prevents harmful toxins from seeping into the environment and finding their way into our water systems. All businesses and government bodies across Europe are required to dispose of their electrical waste in the correct manner.
This article provides you with all the information you need to know about WEEE waste recycling, including what items are considered WEEE waste, how to recycle it, and what happens to it after. Looking for other common skip jargon and its meanings? Read our waste glossary today!
What is classed as WEEE waste?
WEEE waste can be divided into 11 categories:
- Large household appliances
- Refrigerators
- Air conditioners
- Heating pumps
- Dishwashers
- Radiators
- Small household appliances
- Vacuum cleaners
- Microwaves
- Sewing equipment
- Cleaning equipment
- IT and telecommunications equipment
- Desktops
- PCs
- Tablets
- Phones
- Printers
- Monitors
- Consumer equipment
- TVs
- Electric guitars
- Hi-fi
- Lighting equipment
- Fluorescent lamps
- Sodium lamps
- Electrical and electronic tools
- Drills
- DIY equipment
- Saws
- Mowing and gardening equipment
- Toys, leisure and sports equipment
- Video game consoles
- Sports equipment
- Casino machines
- Children’s toys
- Medical devices
- Radiotherapy, cardiology and dialysis equipment
- Monitoring and control equipment
- Smoke detectors
- Thermostats
- Measuring equipment
- Automatic dispensers
- Food, beverage and solid product distributors
- Photovoltaic panels
How to recycle WEEE waste
Due to the toxins in batteries and other electrical components, WEEE waste can not be placed in your regular recycling bin. Instead, WEEE waste must be disposed of at a designated WEEE recycling point or collected by specialists.
Can I put WEEE waste in a skip?
When clearing out an office or flat, you might find some old electronics you want to dispose of. However, you can not place WEEE waste in a skip along with your other disposable items.
Instead, contact a licensed specialist to safely dispose of the waste. Hinton’s has an expert team to assist with WEEE recycling and skip hire services. We offer a comprehensive service and collect, sort and recycle over 90% of your electrical hardware at our licensed recycling depot.
What happens to WEEE waste once it is recycled?
Your WEEE waste will be processed at a dedicated recycling depot. Here it will be shredded into small pieces, and strong magnets and electronic currents will be used to separate the metals and non-metallic elements. Each component will be recycled and reused in new items. Read our blog on the top 10 WEEE recycling facts today!
Get commercial WEEE recycling with Hinton’s Waste. We recycle over 90% of your electrical hardware in accordance with strict guidelines. Our trained and experienced team will ensure all e-waste is disposed of safely and in a manner that is convenient to you. It all takes place at our very own licensed recycling depot.
Get WEEE recycling in Croydon, Sutton and throughout London today. Contact our team for more information.